Charging and Discharging Apparatus, Method for Controlling the Same, and Charging and Discharging System Including the Same

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Korean patent application number 10-2025-0032025 filed on Mar. 12, 2025, in the Ministry of Intellectual Property, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

The present disclosure relates to a charging and discharging apparatus, a method for controlling the same, and a charging and discharging system including the same.

A charging and discharging apparatus performs a function of giving characteristics of secondary batteries (or battery cells) by repeating several charging and discharging processes several times so that an initial battery cell assembled during a production process of the secondary batteries (or battery cells) stores electrical energy.

In the charging and discharging apparatus, a deviation in charging capacity of the battery cells that are chargeable and dischargeable may occur depending on positions at which the charging and the discharging apparatus performs the charging and discharging function. This is because environments (e.g., temperatures) in which the battery cells are disposed varies in the charging and discharging apparatus depending on the positions of the battery cells and positions of a charging and discharging channel. Particularly, since the typical charging and discharging apparatus calculates a charging capacity (or electric capacity) of the battery cell charged through the charging and discharging channel using a single correction equation, the calculated charging capacities of the battery cell charged at different positions may be different from actually measured capacities. Thus, there is a need for a correction method by which the charging capacity of the battery cell is more accurately reflected.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an object of the present disclosure is to improve manufacturing efficiency of a battery cell.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an object of the present disclosure is to reduce a failure rate of a battery cell.

According to further another aspect of the present disclosure, an object of the present disclosure is to improve quality of a battery cell.

The battery cell of the present disclosure may be widely applied in fields of green technologies such as electric vehicles, battery charging stations, solar power generation, wind power generation, etc., which use batteries. In addition, the battery cell of the present disclosure may be used in eco-friendly electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, etc., which are designed to prevent climate change by suppressing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

A charging and discharging apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a charging and discharging channel part electrically connected to a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of jigs configured to support the plurality of battery cells; a temperature sensor part disposed at one side of the plurality of jigs to measure a temperature of an area adjacent to the plurality of battery cells; and a controller configured to control the temperature sensor part, charge or discharge the plurality of battery cells through the charging and discharging channel part, and measure a charging capacity of each battery cell, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a modified charging capacity of each battery cell using a preset equation on the basis of the temperature measured through the temperature sensor part and the calculated charging capacity of each battery cell when each battery cell is charged through the charging and discharging channel part.

According to an embodiment, the charging and discharging channel part may include a plurality of charging and discharging channels configured to charge each of a plurality of battery groups, each of which is grouped by a preset number, among the plurality of battery cells.

According to an embodiment, the preset equation may include a plurality of preset equations for each of the plurality of battery groups, wherein at least some of the plurality of preset equations may be different from each other.

According to an embodiment, the temperature sensor part may include a plurality of temperature sensors configured to measure a temperature of an area to which each battery group belongs.

According to an embodiment, the controller may be configured to calculate a modified charging capacity of any battery cell in one battery group by following Equation 1 representing the preset equation.

ACC=A B C ×(capacity)+×(temperature)+  [Equation 1]

Here, ACC represents a modified charge capacity of any battery cell, C represents a calculated charge capacity of the any battery cell, T represents a temperature of an area to which one of the battery groups belongs, and A, B, and C represent constants.

According to an embodiment, the temperature of the area to which each battery cell belongs may be a mean temperature in a preset measurement section when charging the plurality of battery cells.

A charging and discharging apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a charging and discharging channel part electrically connected to a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of jigs configured to support the plurality of battery cells; a temperature sensor part disposed at one side of the plurality of jigs to measure a temperature of an area adjacent to the plurality of battery cells; a controller configured to control the temperature sensor part, charge or discharge the plurality of battery cells through the charging and discharging channel part, and calculate a charging capacity of each battery cell; and a server configured to communicate with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a modified charging capacity of each battery cell using a preset equation on the basis of the temperature measured through the temperature sensor part and the calculated charging capacity of each battery cell when the plurality of battery cells are charged through the charging and discharging channel part so as to transmit the calculated modified charging capacity to the server.

A method for controlling a charging and discharging apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a process of charging or discharging each of battery cells through a charging and discharging channel part electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells; a process of calculating a charging capacity of each battery cell during the charging of each battery cell through the charging and discharging channel part on the basis of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor part, which is disposed at one side of a plurality of jigs that support the plurality of battery cells to measure a temperature of an area adjacent to the plurality of battery cells; and a process of modifying the charging capacity of each battery cell using a preset equation on the basis of the temperature and the calculated charging capacity of each battery cell.

According to an embodiment, the method may further include, before the process of charging and discharging each battery cell, a process of disposing the plurality of battery cells on the plurality of jigs.

According to an embodiment, the method may further include, after the process of modifying the charging capacity of each battery cell, a process of transmitting the modified charging capacity of each battery cell to a server communicating with the charging and discharging apparatus.

According to an embodiment, the process of modifying the charging capacity of each battery cell may include a process of calculating a modified charging capacity of any battery cell in one battery group using following Equation 2.

ACC=A B C ×(capacity)+×(temperature)+  [Equation 2]

Here, ACC represents a modified charge capacity of any battery cell, C represents a calculated charge capacity of the any battery cell, T represents a temperature of an area to which one of the battery groups belongs, and A, B, and C represent constants.

According to an embodiment, in the process of modifying the charging capacity of each battery cell, the temperature of the area to which each battery group belongs may be a mean temperature in a preset measurement section when charging the plurality of battery cells.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this is merely illustrative, and the present disclosure is not limited to a specific embodiment illustrated as an example of the present disclosure.

In this disclosure, all the terms “battery”, “secondary battery”, and “cell” refer to a battery cell that is chargeable and dischargeable.

1 FIG. is a front view illustrating an example of a charging and discharging apparatus according to the present disclosure.

1000 100 110 140 110 110 2 FIG. 3 FIG. A charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may include a stage partthat accommodates a plurality of battery cells(see), and a charging and discharging channel part(see) electrically connected to the plurality of battery cellsso as to charge/discharge the plurality of battery cells, respectively.

1000 200 110 110 In addition, the charging and discharging apparatusmay include a blowing partthat blows external air toward the plurality of battery cellswith the plurality of battery cellstherebetween.

1000 The charging and discharging apparatusmay refer to a battery cell charging and discharging apparatus used for charging and discharging the battery cell.

110 110 In this disclosure, the type of the plurality of battery cellshas been exemplarily described as a pouch-type, but this is not limited thereto, and the type of the plurality of battery cellsmay also be a circular or prismatic type.

100 110 100 1000 100 10 20 110 20 10 1 FIG. The stage partmay accommodate the plurality of battery cells. Referring to, for example, the stage partmay have a shape in which the stage part is stacked in two stages in a height direction (Z direction) of the charging and discharging apparatus. That is, the stage partmay include a first stageand a second stage, which accommodate the plurality of battery cells, respectively. Here, the second stagemay be disposed above the first stage.

100 However, this is merely an example, and the number of stacked layers of the stage partmay be variously modified.

100 60 The stage partmay be supported by a support part.

200 110 200 1000 100 The blowing partmay suction the external air to blow the external air toward the plurality of battery cells. The blowing partsmay be disposed along a width direction (X direction) of the charging and discharging apparatuswith the stage parttherebetween.

200 100 200 200 210 10 220 20 1 FIG. The blowing partmay suction the external air to blow the external air toward each stage of the stage part. For example, referring to, the blowing partmay be provided in plurality, and the plurality of blowing partsmay include a first blowing partthat blows the external air toward the first stageand a second blowing partthat blows the external air toward the second stage.

210 210 10 1000 The first blowing partmay be provided in plurality, and the plurality of first blowing partsmay be disposed in parallel with the first stagealong a forward and backward direction of the charging and discharging apparatus.

220 220 20 1000 Likewise, the second blowing partmay be provided in plurality, and the plurality of second blowing partsmay be disposed in parallel with the second stagealong the forward and backward direction of the charging and discharging apparatus.

200 21 25 21 110 The blowing partmay include a motor (not shown) that generates rotational force, a blowing fanconnected to a rotation shaft of the motor, and a blowing ductthat transfers the external air, which is suctioned through the blowing fan, toward the plurality of battery cells.

21 90 200 21 200 100 200 21 21 In addition, a central portion of the blowing fanmay be coupled to a rotation shaft of the motor. A controller, which will be described below, may control an air volume of the blowing part. The air volume may be defined as an amount of air that moves per unit time via the blowing fanfrom one blowing parttoward the stage part. When the blowing partincludes the blowing fan, the air volume may be proportional to a rotation speed of the blowing fan.

1000 50 200 200 100 50 51 100 52 100 In addition, the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may further include a blowing framethat supports the blowing part. Since the blowing partis disposed with the stage parttherebetween, the blowing framemay include a first blowing framedisposed at a left side (in an L direction) of the stage partand a second blowing framedisposed at a right side (in an R direction) of the stage part.

2 FIG. is a schematic side view illustrating an example of the stage part according to the present disclosure.

100 10 20 1000 2 FIG. As described above, the stage partmay include a plurality of stagesandstacked in the height direction of the charging and discharging apparatus.illustrates two stages, but this is merely an example, and the number of stages is not limited to two.

100 101 102 110 110 150 The stage partmay include jigsandthat accommodate a plurality of battery groups BG, each of which groups adjacent battery cellsamong the plurality of battery cells, and a temperature sensor partthat measures a temperature of an area adjacent to the plurality of battery groups BG.

100 101 102 As another example, the plurality of battery groups BG may be loaded in trays (not shown), respectively, and then accommodated in the stage part. In addition, the jigsandmay be electrically connected to the battery group BG accommodated in the tray.

150 150 151 152 153 154 The temperature sensor partmay be provided in plurality. For example, the plurality of temperature sensor partsmay include a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, a third temperature sensor, and a fourth temperature sensor, which are disposed to correspond to the plurality of battery groups BG.

110 110 10 20 The plurality of battery cellsmay be grouped in the predetermined number with adjacent battery cellsto form the plurality of battery groups BG. The plurality of battery groups BG may be respectively accommodated in one of the plurality of stagesand.

2 FIG. 10 20 For example, referring to, the first stageand the second stagemay accommodate the plurality of battery groups BG.

100 101 102 110 110 101 102 The stage partmay further include jigsandthat detachably support the plurality of battery cells, respectively. That is, one battery cellmay be disposed between the jigsand.

1000 150 101 102 110 The charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may further include the temperature sensor partdisposed at one side of the plurality of jigsandand configured to measure a temperature of an area adjacent to the plurality of battery cells.

150 151 152 153 154 10 20 151 152 153 154 10 20 2 FIG. For example, the temperature sensor partmay include the plurality of temperature sensors,,, and. Referring to, each of the stagesandmay include four battery groups BG, and the plurality of temperature sensors,,, andmay be disposed to correspond to each battery group BG of each of the stagesand. Thus, each battery group BG may correspond to at least one temperature sensor.

3 FIG. is a control block diagram of the charging and discharging apparatus according to the present disclosure.

2 3 FIGS.and 1000 140 110 101 102 110 150 101 102 110 90 150 110 140 110 Referring to, the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may include the charging and discharging channel partelectrically connected to the plurality of battery cells, the plurality of jigsandthat support the plurality of battery cells, the temperature sensor partdisposed at one side of the plurality of jigsandto measure the temperature of the area adjacent to the plurality of battery cells, and the controllerthat controls the temperature sensor part, charges or discharges the plurality of battery cellsthrough the charging and discharging channel part, and calculates a charging capacity of each battery cell.

90 110 150 110 110 140 In addition, the controllermay calculate a modified charging capacity of each battery cellon the basis of the temperature measured through the temperature sensor partand the calculated (or estimated) charging capacity of each battery cellduring the charging of each battery cellthrough the charging and discharging channel part.

90 110 100 140 The controllermay charge and discharge the plurality of battery cellsaccommodated in the stage partthrough the charging and discharging channel part.

140 145 110 The charging and discharging channel partmay include a plurality of charging and discharging channelsthat charge the plurality of battery groups BG each of which is grouped in the preset number among the plurality of battery cells.

90 145 145 The controllermay charge and discharge each of the plurality of battery groups BG electrically connected to the plurality of charging and discharging channelsthrough the plurality of charging and discharging channels.

90 110 140 110 140 In addition, the controllermay confirm whether charging and discharging of the plurality of battery cellshas been completed through the charging and discharging channel part, and may acquire the charging capacities of each of the plurality of battery cellsthrough the charging and discharging channel part.

110 110 90 110 145 110 110 The charging capacity refers to an electrical capacity of one battery cellwhen a state of charge (SOC) of one battery cellis 100%. The controllermay confirm the charging capacity of the one battery cellthrough one charging and discharging channelconnected to the one battery cellduring the charging or discharging of the one battery cell.

110 110 1000 90 200 When charging and discharging the plurality of battery cells, heat may be generated in the plurality of battery cells. Thus, in order to manage the heat of the charging and discharging apparatus, the controllermay control the blowing part.

110 90 110 110 1000 A method for controlling the charging and discharging apparatus according to the present disclosure relates to a method for correcting charging capacities of the plurality of battery cellscalculated by the controllerso that the charging capacities of the plurality of battery cellsreflect actual charging capacities in consideration of the temperatures of the plurality of battery cellscharged/discharged in the charging and discharging apparatus.

110 145 1000 110 145 110 Since the plurality of battery cellsare divided into the plurality of battery groups BG, and the charging and discharging is performed through the charging and discharging channelscorresponding to each battery group BG, the charging and discharging apparatusmay modify (or correct) the charging capacities of the battery cellsincluded in the battery group BG corresponding to one of the charging and discharging channelsor may modify (or correct) the correction capacities of the individual battery cells.

90 150 150 151 152 153 154 151 152 153 154 The controllermay control the temperature sensor part. The temperature sensor partmay include a plurality of temperature sensors,,, andthat measure the temperature of the area to which each battery group BG belongs. At least one of the plurality of temperature sensors,,, andmay be disposed in each of the plurality of battery groups BG to measure the temperature of the area adjacent to the battery group BG or the temperature of the battery group BG.

145 90 151 152 153 154 More specifically, when charging each battery group BG through the plurality of charging and discharging channels, the controllermay measure the temperature of the area, to which each battery group BG belongs, through the plurality of temperature sensors,,, and.

110 Here, the temperature of the area to which each battery group BG belongs may be a mean temperature in a preset measurement section when the plurality of battery cellsare charged.

110 151 152 153 154 The temperature of the area to which each battery group BG belongs may also be a mean temperature over the entire time period during which the plurality of battery cellsare charged or discharged. Alternatively, the temperature of the area to which each battery group BG belongs may be a temperature acquired through the plurality of temperature sensors,,, andat a specific time point.

90 110 More specifically, the controllermay calculate the modified charging capacity of any battery cellof the one battery group BG by using Equation 1 below.

Here, ACC represents a modified charging capacity of any battery cell, C represents a calculated charging capacity of the any battery cell, T represents a temperature of an area to which one of the battery groups belongs, and A, B, and C represent constants.

According to an embodiment, at least some of a plurality of equations for calculating the specified modified charging capacity for each of the plurality of battery groups BG may be different from each other. That is, the at least some of the plurality of equations may have different values for A, B, and C.

Hereinafter, a method for acquiring the values A, B, and C in Equation 1 will be described.

110 For example, the values A, B, and C in Equation 1 may be acquired using a specific battery cell of the battery cellsincluded in the same battery group BG grouped in a preset number. The specific battery cell may include a first battery cell, a second battery cell, and a third battery cell. The number of specific battery cells is not limited thereto.

150 According to an embodiment, a temperature of an area to which the battery group BG belongs may be acquired through the temperature sensor part.

140 According to an embodiment, a charging capacity calculated when charging the first battery cell may be acquired through the charging and discharging channel part. According to an embodiment, a battery capacity acquisition device of a laboratory chamber may acquire a battery capacity of the first battery cell.

140 According to an embodiment, a charging capacity calculated when charging the second battery cell may be acquired through the charging and discharging channel part. According to an embodiment, the battery capacity acquisition device of the laboratory chamber may acquire a battery capacity of the second battery cell.

140 According to an embodiment, a charging capacity calculated when charging the third battery cell may be acquired through the charging and discharging channel part. According to an embodiment, the battery capacity acquisition device of the laboratory chamber may acquire a battery capacity of a third battery cell.

90 140 150 140 According to an embodiment, the controllermay acquire the values A, B, and C on the basis of a relationship between the charging capacities acquired through the charging and discharging channel partsof the first battery cell, the second battery cell, and the third battery cell, the battery capacities of the first battery cell, the second battery cell, and the third battery cell acquired in the laboratory chamber, and the temperature of the area to which the battery group BG belongs acquired through the temperature sensor part. Here, dependent variables may be the battery capacities acquired from the battery capacity acquisition device of the laboratory chamber. The battery capacity acquired from the battery capacity acquisition device of the laboratory chamber may correspond to a value of ACC in Equation 1. The independent variables may be the charging capacity acquired through the charging and discharging channel partand the temperature. The charging capacity may be a value corresponding to the capacity in Equation 1. The temperature may be a value corresponding to the temperature in Equation 1.

According to an embodiment, the relationship may include a relationship based on a regression model.

2 For example, the relationship may be based on a coefficient of determination (R, R Square) and/or a mean absolute error MAE.

90 90 According to an embodiment, the controllermay determine the values A, B, and C so that the value of the coefficient of determination is greater than a preset first value, and the value of the mean absolute error is less than a preset second value. Alternatively, according to an embodiment, the controllermay determine the values A, B, and C having the largest value of the coefficient of determination and the smallest value of the mean absolute error.

90 110 According to an embodiment, the controllermay calculate the modified charging capacity of any battery cellincluded in one of the battery groups BG on the basis of the determined equation 1 using the following Equation 1.

90 200 150 110 1000 In addition, the controllermay individually control the blowing partson the basis of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor part. This is for managing the temperatures of the plurality of battery cellsaccommodated in the charging and discharging apparatus.

90 190 In addition, the controllermay further include a communication partfor communicating with another device (e.g., a server).

90 In addition, the controllermay control an input/output part (not shown) that receives a command from a user or displays a performance state and a result of performance.

1 140 110 101 102 110 150 101 102 110 90 150 110 140 110 900 90 90 110 150 110 110 140 That is, a charge/discharge systemaccording to the present disclosure may include a charging and discharging channel partelectrically connected to a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of jigsandthat support the plurality of battery cells, a temperature sensor partdisposed at one side of the plurality of jigsandto measure a temperature of an area adjacent to the plurality of battery cells, a controllerthat controls the temperature sensor part, charges or discharges the plurality of battery cellsthrough the charging and discharging channel part, and calculates a charging capacity of each battery cell, and a serverthat is capable of communicating with the controller. The controllermay calculate a modified charging capacity of each battery cellon the basis of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor partand the calculated charging capacity of each battery cellduring charging or discharging of the plurality of battery cellsthrough the charging and discharging channel partand may transmit the modified charging capacity to the server.

4 FIG. is a view illustrating an example of the charging and discharging system according to the present disclosure.

1000 110 1000 150 As described above, the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may calculate the charging capacities of the plurality of battery cells, which are accommodated in the charging and discharging apparatusand charged/discharged by using the temperature acquired through the temperature sensor part, and may modify the calculated charging capacities according to Equation so that the calculated charging capacities match the actual charging capacities.

110 In addition, information regarding the modified charging capacity may be stored in a server (or management server) that stores information about the plurality of battery cells.

1 1000 900 1000 110 1000 For this, the charging and discharging systemaccording to the present disclosure may include the charging and discharging apparatusand the serverthat communicates with the charging and discharging apparatusto store information about the charging capacities of the plurality of battery cellsaccommodated in the charging and discharging apparatus.

5 FIG. is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a charging and discharging apparatus according to the present disclosure.

1000 10 110 101 102 A method for controlling the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may include a process (S) of disposing the plurality of battery cellson the plurality of jigsand.

1000 30 110 1000 110 140 The method for controlling the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may include a process (S) of charging or discharging each battery cell. In the method for controlling the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure, each battery cellmay be fully charged or discharged through the charging and discharging channel part.

1000 110 140 In contrast, in the method for controlling the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure, each battery cellmay be charged to a preset target charging value or discharged to a preset target discharging value through the charging and discharging channel part.

1000 50 The method for controlling the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may include a process (S) of determining an equation for modifying a charging capacity of each battery group BG. The Equation refers to Equation 2, which will be described below.

Hereinafter, a process of determining an equation for modifying a charging capacity of one battery group of the battery groups BG will be described.

1000 110 1000 110 140 The method for controlling the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may include a process of selecting a specific battery cell from the battery cellsincluded in the one battery group BG. The method for controlling the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may include a process of determining, on the basis of a regression model, an equation for modifying charging capacities of the battery cellsincluded in the one battery group BG, by using a charging capacity of a specific battery cell through the charging and discharging channel part, a battery capacity of a specific battery cell acquired in a laboratory chamber, and a temperature of an area to which one of the battery groups belongs.

2 For example, the regression model may be based on a coefficient of determination (R, R Square) and/or a mean absolute error MAE.

1000 1000 The method for controlling the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may include a process of determining values A, B, and C so that a value of the coefficient of determination is greater than a preset first value, and a value of the mean absolute error is less than a preset second value. Alternatively, in the method for controlling the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure, the values A, B, and C having the largest value of the coefficient of determination and the smallest value of the mean absolute error may be determined.

The description of the process of determining the equation for modifying the charging capacity of one battery group of the battery groups BG may be equally applied to the description for the process of determining the equation for modifying the charging capacity of each of the remaining battery groups other than the one battery group.

1000 70 110 140 The method for controlling the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may include a process (S) of calculating (or estimating) the charging capacities of the plurality of battery cellsusing the charging and discharging channel part.

1000 90 110 110 90 110 The method for controlling the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may include a process (S) of modifying the charging capacity of each battery cell. The process of modifying the charging capacity of each battery cell(S) may include calculating the charging capacity using Equation 2 for each battery group BG to which each battery cellbelongs among the battery groups BG. In Equation 2, the values A, B, and C may be different for each battery group BG.

50 Equation 2 may represent an equation determined in the process (S) of determining the equation for each battery group BG.

Here, ACC represents a modified charging capacity of any battery cell, C represents a calculated charging capacity of the any battery cell, T represents a temperature of an area to which one of the battery groups belongs, and A, B, and C represent constants.

The temperature of the area to which one of the battery groups belongs may be a mean temperature in a preset measurement section when charging the plurality of battery cells included in the one battery group.

1000 100 900 1000 110 90 110 The method for controlling the charging and discharging apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may include a process (S) transmitting, to a servercapable of communicating with the charging and discharging apparatus, the modified charging capacities (information on the charging capacities) of the battery cellsafter the process (S) of modifying the charging capacities of the battery cells.

110 1000 900 As a result, the charging capacities of the plurality of battery cellscharged/discharged by the charging and discharging apparatusmay be updated to the modified charging capacities and may be managed by the server.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the manufacturing efficiency of the battery cell may be improved.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the failure rate of the battery cell may be reduced.

According to further another embodiment of the present disclosure, the quality of the battery cell may be improved.

The above description is merely an example that applies the principles of the present disclosure, and other configurations may be included without departing from the scope of the present invention.